More fireworks at Governor’s Council meeting

Members of the judicial vetting panel voted 6-1 to approve Gov. Deval Patrick’s nominee, attorney Gary Inge, to the state Superior Court.Governor’s Councilor Thomas Merrigan was the lone vote against the nominee, drawing criticism from Councilor Marilyn Devaney, who charged that Merrigan’s decision carried racial undertones. The statement brought on a flare of tension between Merrigan and Devaney and condemnation of Devaney from her colleagues.Members of the Governor’s Council also unanimously voted to approve Dana Gershengorn, the deputy chief of the major crime unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston, to a seat on the Juvenile Court in Plymouth County.Merrigan, a former Orange District Court judge, heavily questioned Inge at his nomination hearing last month on his lack of criminal law experience and his writing skills in the judicial questionnaires that nominees fill out as part of the nomination process.“I do not believe his qualifications and experience in their entirety are enough to support his nomination,” Merrigan said, noting that it was the first vote he’s taken against a judicial nominee. “I have concluded that attorney Inge has not met the high standard we apply to Superior Court nominees – the court where our most complex civil and criminal cases are litigated.”A Boston resident and New Haven native, Inge has worked at the Boston law office of Thomas Johnson and as an in-house staff trial counsel for the Plymouth Rock Assurance Corp. since 2005. He has worked at a variety of other Boston law firms since 1978.At Plymouth Rock’s in-house firm, his clients are automobile policy holders involved in car accidents, with injuries ranging from brain injuries to spine injuries.Councilor Marilyn Devaney said she spent three hours personally interviewing Inge for the job and called him “one of the most qualified, ethical nominees that has come before the council in my tenure.”Devaney pointed to Christine Roach, the former special outside counsel to the city of Boston and former State Ethics Commission member who was confirmed to the Superior Court in 2008. Devaney said Merrigan voted for Roach, who Devaney noted is white, but did not have criminal experience in the Superior Court.“Moreover, attorney Inge” – who is black – “has far more civil trial experience than attorney Roach,” she said.Merrigan said his questions at last week’s hearing were “appropriate and respectful.” He declined to comment on Devaney’s remarks. “It’s not worth responding to,” he said.Devaney’s statement drew shouts of surprise from her fellow councilors, who have often clashed with Devaney and stood up to defend Merrigan.“That is the lowest thing I’ve seen,” said Councilor Michael Callahan. “You should be ashamed.”“He treated the nominee with respect, he asked a few hard questions,” said Councilor Carole Fiola, before turning to Devaney. “Shame, shame, shame.”Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, after presiding over the hearing, called Merrigan “one of the most honorable people I’ve come across.”“We know and don’t expect there’s always going to be unanimity of opinion,” he added when asked about Merrigan’s “no” vote. “Each one of these Governor’s Councilors are elected on their own. We know we’re not going to win everybody’s vote 100 percent of the time.”

2 comments

Wow — Councilor Devaney continues her juvenile, if not vile, behavior as an elected official. Her constituents ought to be ashamed that they re-elected her. What a circus she creates. It’s more comical than Bozo the clown, really.

Hmmm, the quote about Superior Court, “where our most complex civil and criminal cases are litigated,” isn’t it strange that they are taking court reporters and replacing them with machines — which I hear through the grapevine are not working out that well — “complex,” that’s a pretty serious word. What other people, besides court reporters are losing their jobs in the courts???? The million dollar question.